I had my first savory crêpe last March in Long Beach, Calif. It was a melt-in-your-mouth delight wrapped around tender grilled chicken, gooey ricotta cheese, roasted red bell peppers, and baby spinach. The whole thing was topped with just the right amount of balsamic cream sauce. I thought I had died and gone to heaven. Since then, I have scoured Seattle for a good crêpèrie.

I tried my luck at the Citizen cafè and left with mixed emotions.

Standing on a corner in a slightly odd location off of Aurora Avenue in Queen Anne, from the outside, Citizen looks like a cool little coffee shop. A floor-to-ceiling wine shelf greets you walking in, and mouthwatering aromas waft from the kitchen behind the stairs. The uncovered bricks and unfinished walls and ceiling gives the restaurant an urban-loft vibe. Upstairs, a couple of tables line the walls, and excavated theater seats around a coffee table provide alternative seating.

My friend and I sat down, eager to begin our meal.

I chose the October special, a crêpe filled with andouille sausage, ricotta cheese and caramelized onions and covered in crème fraîche. Frankly, it was not as tasty as I had hoped. The sauce was bland, and the sausage overpowered the rest of the mixture.

My companion ordered a crêpe with caramelized onions, paprika-infused goat cheese, and spinach in a sautéed mushroom cream sauce. Her crêpe was more flavorful than mine. The ingredients came together more equally and organically.

Unfortunately, both of our crêpes came lukewarm.

I was also disappointed with the service. Our waitress didn’t write down our order and then promptly forgot it. Twice she had to verify what our drinks were. It also took a long time for the crêpes to arrive; we waited at least 45 minutes for our lunch.

On the other hand, I will concede that the dessert crêpes were sugary and satisfying. Mine was filled with homemade lemon curd and strawberries. The tart lemon complimented the sweet berries, dancing a tasty tango on my tongue.

My friend enjoyed a Nutella-and-banana-filled crêpe topped with whipped cream. The classic chocolate-and-banana combination was further enhanced with the hazelnut spread. The sensation was warm, familiar and delicious.

I will also grant they made a good cup of coffee, and their barista is a latte artist: My hazelnut latte appeared with a leaf drawn in the foam. Citizen brews local Lighthouse Roasters coffee.

In addition to crêpes, Citizen offers salads, Vietnamese tofu, pork or chicken sandwiches, and Citizen-signature pork sandwiches. The restaurant is reasonably priced at about $8 for a crêpe and about $5–7 for a sandwich or salad.

While I wasn’t too impressed with Citizen’s savory crêpes, I might return for an espresso and a dessert crêpe. There is potential in the oddly situated coffee shop, but it seems my search for Seattle’s best crêpérie is still on.

C+

Reach reporter Ashleen Aguilar at weekender@dailyuw.com.